Coupling assembly between two successive wagon structures and a common bogie

ABSTRACT

An assembly for coupling to the same bogie the opposite ends of two successive wagon structures having a &#34;V&#34;-shaped front end (18) articulated on the bogie and an open rear end (13) consisting of two parallel arms (14, 15) has a pivoting cross member (26) on the bogie integrated with the &#34;V&#34;-shaped front end of the first wagon structure by which the preceding wagon structure is coupled, the pivoting cross member (26) comprising at each of its ends a receiving support (30, 31) equipped with an immobilizing device for each of the ends of the arms of the rear end (13) of the preceding wagon structure. The ends of the arms (14, 15) each have a junction structure cooperating with each receiving support.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a coupling assembly between twosuccessive wagon structures and a common bogie.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The considerable development of road transport in industrializedcountries has obliged industry to find means for rapid rail/roadconversion and vice versa or for transportation of totally or partiallyconstituted road units in order to relieve the road network withoutlosing the advantages of road transport.

French Patent Application Nos. 91 10590, 92 02763 and 92 02764 in thename of the Applicant relate to a wagon structure with an underslungbase equipped with integral lifting means and means for coupling theadjacent ends of two successive wagon structures to one and the samebogie, permitting the implementation of various loading and unloadingprocedures in a handling area or a marshalling yard.

The wagon structure described in these applications exhibits most of thenumerous advantages desired, in particular simplicity of construction,as well as lateral transfer possibilities.

However, the couplings between the wagon structures and the approach,joining and locking maneuvers require precise, delicate handlingdemanding a certain skill and sustained attention. In fact, coupling ofeach rear end of a wagon structure to the bogie requires centering priorto fitting.

This detracts from the speed and security of transfer, handling andtrain-forming operations.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention enables these disadvantages to be remedied in amanner which will satisfy all the demands relating to this type of wagonstructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a coupling assembly betweensuccessive wagon structures and a common bogie, each wagon structurecomprising, on the one hand, a front end formed by two branchesconverging to a point, and an open rear end defined by two parallel armsin the manner of a side sill. A common articulated assembly on thepivotally receives the front end point and a pivoting cross membercomprising at each of its ends a receiving support for the arms of theopen rear end of the preceding structure, the arms having at their endsjunction means cooperating with the receiving supports with a view tothe rapid coupling of the rear end.

The means for establishing and maintaining the connection with thepreceding wagon structure comprises, at each end of the pivoting crossmember, a resiliently returnable transverse immobilizing pin emergingtransversely from each receiving support and a receiving and extractionmechanism at each of the ends of the rear end arms of the precedingwagon structure.

In this way, the coupling and uncoupling maneuvers are both simpler andquicker. In fact, the need for effecting the correspondence of membersor mechanical parts before the coupling stage has been totally dispensedwith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technical characteristics and other advantages of the invention maybe found in the following description of one embodiment, made by way ofa non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of an improved wagon structure, inreverse position, showing at its front end the main variant of thecoupling assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front end of the wagon structure andof the bogie interface on which it is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rear end of the wagon structure andof the bogie on which it is designed to be mounted;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the opposing ends of two successivewagon structures before linking the same together;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the arms and of the rearend of the wagon structure cut through a median plane at the level ofthe common articulated assembly;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view, with transparent lateral walls,of the junction and receiving means of two successive structures beforecoupling of one of the arms;

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional perspective view of a receiving supportfor the pivoting cross member, showing a retractable immobilizing pin;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the junction means formed by thedisengaging device and a receiving member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The coupling assembly according to the invention is designed forparticular wagon structures, in particular of the type described in theabove-mentioned prior applications.

This type of structure is a load-bearing structure fulfilling railroadstandards and designed to be coupled in a separable manner by each ofits ends to the opposite ends of preceding and succeeding adjoiningstructures and by an interface to a common bogie, the bogie interfacebeing identical for all the bogies on the same railroad train.

In a manner which is non-limiting and non-restrictive in application,and for reasons of clarity and sufficiency of description, we shallfirstly describe below the general bogie interface means which are thesubject matter of a parallel protection and which are capable ofreceiving at their ends, in a separable manner, the wagon structureaccording to the invention, and at the same time the generalcharacteristics of this wagon structure.

A front bogie 1 or rear bogie 2 traditionally comprises two axles 3 and4 which optionally carry brake disks.

The ends of the axles are mounted in bearing boxes such as 5 and 6supporting paired blocks 7 and 8 forming, with various other mechanicalelements, an underframe which is not shown in detail. This underframeconventionally supports at least one ball joint known as acenter-casting 9.

This ball joint commonly receives in a pivotal manner, the lower endstructure of the conventional wagon supported by the bogie.

For reasons of drawing clarity, only the main structures of the bogieshave been shown in the Figures. Thus, certain existing mechanicallinkage supports are not visible.

This common bogie interface, adaptable to all current railroad rollingstock, is used to articulate and connect the front and rear ends of twosuccessive wagon structures to one and the same bogie through theintermediary of the coupling according to the invention.

There now follows a brief description, with reference to FIG. 1, of awagon structure for integration into a train between two like structuresand for mounting on the two bogies, front bogie 1 and rear bogie 2,through the intermediary of couplings according to the invention.

The structure comprises two side members 10 and 11 connected together atthe level of their base by an underslung base 17.

The side members are extended towards the rear end 13 at a higher levelby two parallel arms 14 and 15 in the manner of side sills, definingwith their edges adjoining the side members and the transverse base end,an access opening 16 for a load.

The general construction of the rear end visible in the Figures is suchthat the opening plane thereof is set back considerably with respect tothe ends of the arms.

Thus, the rear transverse edge 17 of the base 12 is displaced forwardlyso as to permit the tractor of a semitrailer truck to remain on theground during loading and unloading.

The side members are extended towards the front end 18 by two convergingbranches 19 and 20 arranged approximately at the same higher level asthe rear end arms. They effect a general "V" shape, converging to aforwardly directed point 21 in a median zone determined by the generalvertical median plane of the wagon structure and an upper horizontalplane which may be that defined by the two higher parallel edges of theside members.

The bifurcated "V"-shaped front end 18 is firmly connected to a commoncentral articulated pivoting assembly 22 with a common geometric axis 23as seen in FIG. 5. This articulated assembly 22 shown schematically inFIG. 5 comprises a cylindrical pivot 24 to which is firmly connected thepoint 21 of the "V"-shaped front end 18 and on which is pivotallymounted an internal joint 25 of the simple rolling contact type or withball-effect rolling contact, the articulated assembly 22 being mountedon the center-casting 9.

A pivoting cross member 26 is integrated mechanically into the front end18, this front end being effected by two spaced plates 27 and 28 keptseparated by a strut 29 and mounted on the common articulated assembly22, and the pivoting cross member 26 is also mounted on this articulatedassembly 22 by the internal joint 25 and is accommodated in the spacebetween the two plates 27 and 28 of the front end 18.

According to the embodiment used as the basic variant, the two plates 27and 28 forming the front end 18 are firmly connected to the cylindricalpivot 24 which itself pivots with respect to the bogie.

In an elaborated version the front end 18 may be separable from thearticulated assembly 22.

The internal joint 25 facilitates the pivoting movements made by thecross member. As indicated, this joint 25 may have an additional degreeof freedom by being of the mixed pivot/ball type so as to permit slightinclined deflections such as those caused by rocking and pitchingmovements.

The pivoting cross member 26 thus has mechanical degrees of freedom, inparticular for independent pivoting movements. However, it is sandwichedbetween the two spaced plates 27 and 28 at the front end 18 and limitedin angular deflection by the strut 29.

As mentioned above, the pivoting joint of the end of the load-bearingstructure and the upper and lower joints have a common axis 23.

At each of its ends the pivoting cross member 26 comprises a receivingsupport 30, 31 enabling the establishment, maintenance and separation ofthe junction between the ends of the pivoting cross member and the ends32, 33 of the arms of the rear end of an adjoining wagon structure to beensured.

Each receiving support 30, 31 is formed as a cradle 34 or receptacle 35of bent sheet metal, as seen in FIG. 6, and in each of which thereemerges a transverse pin such as 36, as seen in FIG. 8, which is mountedso as to be movable transversely and resiliently in a reciprocablybiased manner towards its extended position. Each cradle or receptacle34 and 35 effects the general shape of a gutter, on the one hand, withinclined lower inlet ramps 37 and, on the other hand, with converginglateral inlet ramps 38, 39 to the right and left.

Owing to the guiding function performed thereby, these ramps permitengagement and positioning in the same movement of the ends of the armsin the receiving supports and slight automatic height adjustment of theends of the side sills so as to bring them to the same level as thepivoting cross member, that is to say into the rolling position.

In a simplified variant, the front end 18 is formed of a single plateand may be vertically separated from the bogie. In this case, the crossmember is free since it is not sandwiched and loading/unloading byvertical separation applies fully.

We shall now examine in more detail, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8, thejunction means provided at the end of each arm of the side sill anddesigned to cooperate with the receiving/immobilizing means provided ateach of the ends of the pivoting cross member with a view to establisinga separable connection.

First of all, the receiving/immobilizing means comprise the receivingsupports and the transverse immobilizing pins such as 36 which aremovable transversely between a retracted position and an extendedposition towards which they are compelled by a return spring.

Each immobilizing pin may have a cylindrical body 40 sliding in acylindrical receptacle 41 and a head with two bevelled edges 42 and 43,which are slightly inclined for example, as shown in FIG. 7. In thisFigure, it is also possible to see a guiding rod 44 and a receptacle 45in which there is mounted a return spring (not shown).

The junction means themselves relate firstly to the converging shape ofthe ends of each arm of the side sill formed, for example, by aplurality of ramps converging towards a tapered end 46.

In each of these ends there is accommodated an engagement/extractionmechanism such as 47 visible in FIGS. 6 and 8.

It comprises a receiving member 48 in the aperture of which thereengages the immobilizing pin 36 and a disengaging device formed of arocker 49 actuated by an articulated member 50 with an adjustableconnecting rod 51 or the like. The rocker 49 comprises an angleddisengaging member 52 which is pivotably articulated on the one hand toa pivoting shaft 53 and on the other hand to the end of the connectingrod 51 by a pivotable lateral rod-end strap 54.

Support of the end of the bent angled disengaging member 52 on the headof the retractable immobilizing pin 36 permits extraction of thereceiving member 48 and freeing of the corresponding end of the sidesill. Complete separation is then effected by short longitudinaldisplacement.

Owing to these automatic junction means and receiving/immobilizing meanswith mechanical disengagement, at the time of performing the couplingoperations, the multiple precentering adjustments required with devicesfeaturing guide pin centering, for example, are avoided. In fact, theheight adjusts automatically and centering/guiding is ensured by theinlet ramps provided at the ends of the receiving supports and at thetapered end of each arm.

In order to permit pivoting and a first height adjustment of one or theother end or of both ends simultaneously, the wagon structure optionallycomprises, in the vicinity of its ends, individual, preferablyautonomous, lifting means optionally with or without integral rolling,for example props 55, 56 provided at each of the ends of each sidemember, at a single end of the wagon structure or at both ends thereof,as seen in FIG. 4.

The type of prop envisaged is that of a retractable and extendable, forexample telescopic, prop. The props may he hydraulic or even manuallyactuated.

To permit totally autonomous displacement of the train wagon structureby oblique transverse movement, it is possible to provide the base ofeach prop 55, 56 with directional or fixed axis rolling means.

In the case of a fixed axis, the constant general direction thereof isradial, that is to say passing through the pivot center.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it is possible to combine theserolling means with extendable props.

Thus, the lower ends of the props are mounted on a pivoting rollertable.

To permit the loading of standard or non-standard containers, it ispossible to provide, on the upper edges of the side members, twistlockssuch as are shown in FIG. 3 at 57 and 58 interacting with the lowercorner members of the containers with a view to their firm connectionwith the wagon structure.

In order to admit large containers, four additional twistlocks areprovided, two of which are at the front, such as 59, and two of whichare at the back, such as 60, as seen in FIG. 1. These twistlocks aresupported by a retractable plate which permits the assembly to retractinto the wall of each of the ends of each of the side members.

In general, several methods of proceeding with the loading/unloadingoperations are possible with the rail transport unit coupled by thecoupling assembly according to the invention.

The following loading/unloading methods may be distinguished.

First mention is of linear or longitudinal loading/unloading, accordingto which the series of rail transport units is separated at the level ofthe couplings between load bearing structures without any other movementthan that of longitudinal connection and disconnection of the junctionmeans.

Thereafter, mention may be made of oblique loading/unloading, accordingto which the rear ends of the load bearing railroad structures aredisengaged from the neighboring supporting structure by aretraction/disengagement movement followed by one of rotation as far asan obliquely displaced position permitting oblique longitudinalpenetration into the load bearing structure through its transverse endopening with a view to its loading/unloading.

Final mention is of vertical loading/unloading by an external handlingmeans possible in the case of a variant with a separable front end andmore particularly with a single plate front end.

The various methods of loading/unloading will be described in moredetail below.

The first method relates to linear or longitudinal loading/unloading.

This method of loading/unloading requires a loading area with railsintegrated into the ground.

According to this method, the rail transport unit is connected ordisconnected by a longitudinal, horizontal displacement movement of itsopen end effected by external means. The road haulage unit is loaded orunloaded, either directly along linear load bearing displacementstructures, or indirectly through the intermediary of one or moretransverse mobile load bearing structures on which rests the road train.

The oblique loading/unloading operations will now be examined, whichenable all these operations to be effected without any modification tothe railroad train, that is to say independently of the other railroadunits which it may comprise.

Loading/unloading is effected by moving the rear end into an obliqueposition after disconnection from the neighboring load bearing structureby any means, for example by props, then oblique displacement by rollingalong the loading platform, during which operation the load bearingstructure pivots as a unit about its front end, gaining pivotal supportfrom the front bogie.

After loading of a road vehicle, for example, the load bearing structureis brought laterally back towards its starting position by a pivotingmovement of the assembly in the same manner as previously done but inreverse order.

The lifting means, for example integral in the form of props, raise thefront ends of the side members, and position them opposite theconnecting/locking means of the front end of the subsequent load bearingstructure.

After coupling and locking, the load bearing structure is ready in thetrain with its new load for railroad transport.

All unloading operations are effected in a reverse order as those of theloading operations.

On the other hand, owing to the means of lifting the two ends, whenprovided, it is possible to deposit the wagon structure by transverse orlongitudinal displacement in the case of vertically separable variantsalso at the front end.

The means for lifting the rear end, such means being integral with thewagon structure or thereof, permit, after opening of the additionalsafety bolts (not shown), disconnection of the junction means and theachievement of the disconnection of the wagon structure from the bogieinterface. A rotational movement about the front end ensuresdisengagement of the rear end by oblique displacement.

The front end is then disconnected and brought out of the alignment ofthe train.

The simplest, most conventional method relates to vertical disconnectionand transportation by an external lifting appliance which is onlypossible here with the vertically separable variants.

It is sufficient, to free possible blockages or locking, to disconnectthe junction means from the ends of the adjoining wagon structures andto effect slight longitudinal displacement (elaborated variant), then tolift the assembly by a lifting appliance whose gripping elements andmembers are based on technical forms and structures specially providedto this end.

This lifting of the assembly permits the extraction from the train ofthe rail transport unit with its load, the same elsewhere while waiting,or insertion with its load into another railroad train.

Means of lifting the two ends permit the removal for the wagon structureby transverse or longitudinal displacement.

The above-described means offer the possibility of selecting andeffecting the loading/unloading method best suited to the load(container, road-haulage unit or the like) and to the design of the yardhandling area, of the train and of the constraints and peculiarities ofthe marshalling operation.

It goes without saying that various obvious modifications and simplevariants come within the scope of the present invention beyond theabove-described means. It is therefore to be understood that within thescope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein.

I claim:
 1. An assembly for coupling two opposite ends of two successivewagon structures to the same bogie, comprising:a first wagon structurehaving a front end and a rear end; a second wagon structure having afront end and a rear end; a bogie having pivot means fixedly mountedthereon and to which said front end of said first wagon structure ispivotally connected so as to permit pivotal movement of said first wagonstructure with respect to said bogie; and means mounted upon said frontend of said first wagon structure for connection to said rear end ofsaid second wagon such that said second wagon structure is connected tosaid first wagon structure and said first wagon structure is connectedto said bogie whereby opposite front and rear ends of said first andsecond wagon structures are connected to the same bogie.
 2. An assemblyas set forth in claim 1, wherein:each one of said wagon structurescomprises side members connected together by means of an underslungbase.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said rear end ofsaid second wagon structure comprises a pair of laterally spaced,rearwardly extending arms; and said means mounted upon said front end ofsaid first wagon structure comprises a pair of laterally spaced cradlereceptacles for receiving said laterally spaced arms of said secondwagon structure.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein:saidpair of laterally spaced cradle receptacles are defined upon oppositelateral sides of a cross member pivotally connected to said pivot meansof said bogie.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein:saidfront end of said first wagon structure comprises a pair of verticallyspaced plates through which said pivot means of said bogie passes; andsaid cross member is interposed between said vertically spaced plates ofsaid front end of said first wagon structure.
 6. An assembly as setforth in claim 3, further comprising:locking means defined between saidlaterally spaced cradle receptacles of said first wagon structure andsaid laterally spaced arms of said second wagon structure for releasablymaintaining said second wagon structure connected to said first wagonstructure.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein:said lockingmeans comprises extendable/retractable pin means mounted within saidcradle receptacles of said first wagon structure, andextendable/retractable socket means mounted upon said arms of saidsecond wagon structure.
 8. An assembly for coupling two opposite ends oftwo successive wagon structures to the same bogie, comprising:a firstwagon structure having a front end and a rear end; a second wagonstructure having a front end and a rear end; a bogie to which said firstand second wagon structures are to be connected; pivot means fixedlymounted upon said bogie for pivotally mounting said front end of saidfirst wagon structure thereon so as to provide pivotal movement of saidfirst wagon structure with respect to said bogie; and means mounted uponsaid front end of said first wagon structure for supportably connectingsaid rear end of said second wagon structure to said front end of saidfirst wagon structure, whereby said front end of said first wagonstructure is pivotally connected to said bogie by said pivot means,while said rear end of said second wagon structure is also connected tosaid bogie through the intermediary of said front end of said firstwagon structure.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein:saidrear end of said second wagon structure comprises a pair of laterallyspaced, rearwardly extending arms; and said means mounted upon saidfront end of said first wagon structure for supportably connecting saidrear end of said second wagon structure comprises a pair of laterallyspaced cradle receptacles for receiving said laterally spaced arms ofsaid second wagon structure.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9,wherein:said pair of laterally spaced cradle receptacles are definedupon opposite lateral sides of a cross member pivotally connected tosaid pivot means of said bogie so as to provide pivotal movement of saidrear end of said second wagon structure with respect to said bogie whensaid laterally spaced arms of said second wagon structure are disposedwithin said laterally spaced cradle receptacles of said first wagonstructure.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10, furthercomprising:locking means defined between said laterally spaced cradlereceptacles of said first wagon structure and said laterally spaced armsof said second wagon structure for releasably retaining said arms ofsaid second wagon structure within said cradle receptacles of said firstwagon structure.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein:saidlocking means comprises extendable/retractable pin means mounted uponsaid cradle receptacles of said first wagon structure, andextendable/retractable socket means mounted upon said arms of saidsecond wagon structure.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 10,wherein:said front end of said first wagon structure comprises a pair ofvertically spaced plates through which said pivot means of said bogiepasses; and said cross member is interposed between said verticallyspaced plates of said front end of said first wagon structure.
 14. Anassembly for coupling two opposite ends of two successive wagonstructures to the same bogie, comprising:a first wagon structure havinga front end and a rear end; a second wagon structure having a front end,and a rear end comprising a pair of laterally spaced arms; a bogie towhich said first and second wagon structures are to be connected; pivotmeans fixedly mounted upon said bogie for pivotally mounting said frontend of said first wagon structure thereon so as to provide pivotalmovement of said first wagon structure with respect to said bogie; and across member mounted upon said front end of said first wagon structureso as to be pivotable about said pivot means of said bogie andcomprising laterally spaced cradle receptacles for housing said pair oflaterally spaced arms of said second wagon structure, whereby said frontend of said first wagon structure is pivotally connected to said bogieby said pivot means, and said rear end of said second wagon structure ispivotally connected to said bogie through the intermediary of said crossmember mounted upon said front end of said first wagon structure andpivotable about said pivot means of said bogie.
 15. An assembly as setforth in claim 14, wherein:said front end of said first wagon structurecomprises a pair of vertically spaced plates through which said pivotmeans of said bogie passes; and said cross member is interposed betweensaid vertically spaced plates of said front end of said first wagonstructure.
 16. An assembly as set forth in claim 14, furthercomprising:locking means defined between said laterally spaced cradlereceptacles of said first wagon structure and said laterally spaced armsof said second wagon structure for releasably retaining said arms ofsaid second wagon structure within said cradle receptacles of said firstwagon structure.
 17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein:saidlocking means comprises extendable/retractable pin means mounted uponsaid cradle receptacles of said first wagon structure, andextendable/retractable socket means mounted upon said arms of saidsecond wagon structure.
 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 14,wherein:each one of said wagon structures comprises side membersconnected together by means of an underslung base.